Anxiety is one of the most widespread mental health conditions in the world. It can significantly affect a person’s daily life, work, relationships, and well-being. But despite its prevalence, almost 75% of people in the U.S. with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety don’t seek treatment.
While traditional anxiety treatments, like medication and talk therapy, are often recommended, they don’t always work for everyone. That’s where transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) comes in – a breakthrough therapy that offers new hope for those struggling with anxiety.
TMS is a non-invasive procedure that uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain responsible for mood regulation. By activating neural pathways and releasing mood-enhancing neurotransmitters, TMS can provide significant relief from anxiety symptoms.
In this article, we’ll explore how TMS treatment can help people with anxiety, its benefits, effects, and what to expect from the process.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress, often arising as the anticipation of a future concern. This feeling can cause muscle tension and avoidance behaviors as the body prepares to face what it perceives as a challenge. In many cases, anxiety helps us navigate stressful situations.
While it’s normal to experience anxiety from time to time, anxiety disorders are different. If you experience overwhelming anxiety for six months or more, and it begins to interfere with your work, relationships, and daily activities, you may have an anxiety disorder.
There are several types of anxiety disorders, including but not limited to:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Panic disorder
- Phobias (fear of specific objects, situations or activities)
- Social anxiety
- Separation anxiety
- Selective mutism (fear of speaking in front of others).
Anxiety can also present as a symptom of other mental, psychological, or health conditions, including major depressive disorder (MDD), chronic pain, substance abuse, or chronic inflammatory diseases.
As the most common mental health condition in the United States, anxiety disorders affect around 40 million adults in the country. The good news is that anxiety disorders are highly treatable. With the right support, you can manage anxiety symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Symptoms of anxiety
When most people think of anxiety, they picture a racing heart, sweaty palms, or butterflies in the stomach. While these are common, anxiety symptoms can vary greatly from person to person.
Below are some of the most frequent symptoms associated with anxiety:
- A persistent sense of impending danger or doom
- Excessive sweating
- Restlessness or feeling on edge
- Trembling or shaking
- Overwhelming worry that’s hard to control
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating
- Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety
- Racing thoughts or troubling beliefs
- Inability to think beyond the current worry
- Irritability or mood swings
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia)
- Rapid heartbeat
- Shallow or fast breathing
- Digestive issues or stomach discomfort
- Chronic fatigue or feeling easily tired
- General body aches and tension.
What is TMS therapy?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment that uses electromagnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in targeted regions of the brain. You’ll sometimes see it referred to as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).
TMS has been shown to alleviate symptoms of neurological and mental health disorders, including:
- Major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Motor dysfunction due to conditions like Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke.
TMS therapy is a safe, well-tolerated, and painless treatment that’s performed on an outpatient basis. Since it doesn’t require anesthesia or sedation, you’re free to drive yourself home after treatment and continue with your day as usual.
See: Is TMS Appropriate for Treating Adolescents With Depression?
Types of TMS therapy
There are three types of TMS therapy that offer unique approaches to treatment. These are repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS), and accelerated TMS.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
rTMS is the most common type of TMS therapy. This non-invasive procedure involves placing an electromagnetic coil on your scalp that delivers magnetic pulses to targeted regions of the brain. These pulses stimulate nerve cells in areas involved in mood regulation, helping reduce anxiety and depression symptoms.
rTMS sessions usually last between 20 to 60 minutes and no anesthetic is needed. During treatment, you might feel a gentle tapping or knocking sensation as the pulses penetrate about a quarter inch into the brain. The magnetic field used in rTMS is similar in strength to an MRI.
One variation of rTMS is called Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS), which uses short, high-frequency bursts of stimulation to mimic natural brain activity rhythms. This can potentially speed up the treatment process.
Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS)
dTMS targets larger and deeper parts of the brain than rTMS. This method uses specialized H-coils which can deliver magnetic pulses up to 1.25 inches into the brain.
Like rTMS, dTMS stimulates regions of the brain linked to mood and anxiety, and is a non-invasive procedure that’s scheduled daily over the course of 4 to 6 weeks.
Accelerated TMS (aTMS)
aTMS is an advanced, intensive version of traditional rTMS. This type of TMS therapy delivers multiple sessions in a single day to compress the treatment timeline. This approach is especially suited for people wanting to experience results more quickly. Instead of being administered over 4 to 6 weeks, aTMS treatment sessions can be completed within just two weeks.
aTMS research is still ongoing, but early studies show it to be just as effective as standard TMS, with the added benefit of faster treatment response. This can be helpful for those who need quicker symptom relief or have scheduling constraints.
How does TMS work?
TMS therapy involves placing an electromagnetic coil on your head that sends magnetic pulses to specific parts of your brain. Here’s what you can expect during a TMS therapy session:
- Preparation: Your TMS technician will have you seated comfortably and answer any questions you might have. You’ll be given earplugs to minimize noise, and they’ll make sure you’re relaxed before starting treatment.
- Placing the coil: During your first session, the technician will measure your head to find the ideal position for the magnetic coil, which targets areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. Other measurements might be taken at this point to personalize treatment for you.
- Stimulation: Once the coil is positioned, magnetic pulses will be sent through the coil to targeted brain regions, stimulating nerve cells and releasing mood-enhancing neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.
- Sensation: You might hear clicking sounds or feel light tapping on your scalp as the magnetic pulses are being delivered. Some patients might also feel a slight tingle or twitch in their facial muscles.
- Monitoring: Throughout the session, your technician will monitor your comfort and adjust the intensity of magnetic pulses as required.
- Post-session: Each session lasts between 20 to 60 minutes. Once it’s over, you can go home and go about your day as usual.
- Follow-ups: TMS therapy is usually delivered over a series of sessions – typically around 36 in total, spread over several weeks. The exact number of sessions you need will depend on your symptoms and response to the treatment.
Read: Using TMS Therapy For Fibromyalgia
Can TMS help people with anxiety?
Research shows that TMS therapy can be highly effective in treating anxiety disorders. Let’s dive into some of the findings.
In one study, stimulating the insular-prefrontal cortex using TMS therapy helped reduce anxiety symptoms by 70.7% in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and by 88.7% in those with occupational stress.
Another study involving 212 individuals with anxiety and depressive disorders found that deep TMS significantly reduced anxiety symptoms by the fifth week of treatment. 32.6% of patients experienced a complete remission.
Additionally, three other randomized control trials showed that TMS greatly improved anxiety scores in people with anxious depression. When compared to placebo treatments and medication, the effect sizes of deep TMS were 0.34 and 0.90 respectively. These improvements were sustained for up to four months. For comparison, the maximum effective size typically achieved with standard medications ranges from just 0.2 to 0.37.
Continue Reading: Do Antidepressants Work and How Effective Are They?
Studies generally show that TMS therapy can help alleviate the following anxiety symptoms:
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbances
- Frequent urination
- Shortness of breath
- Muscular tension
- Excessive sweating
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing
- Digestive issues
- Headaches
- High blood pressure.
How does TMS therapy help anxiety?
TMS therapy helps relieve anxiety symptoms by activating parts of the brain that govern mood. Anxiety disorders often involve abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain responsible for emotional regulation. Most prescription medications used to treat anxiety target this same area of the brain.
TMS therapy follows a different approach. A magnetic coil is placed near the prefrontal cortex and delivers gentle magnetic pulses that activate underperforming parts of the brain. These magnetic pulses essentially ‘wake up’ parts of the brain that, when not functioning optimally, can contribute to feelings of anxiety. Activating these regions can help relieve anxiety symptoms.
Some patients may notice immediate improvements after just one TMS session, while others might need multiple treatments to feel relief.
Although TMS therapy isn’t yet the conventional first-line treatment for anxiety, that doesn’t mean that it’s any less effective than other therapies. For many people with anxiety, TMS therapy has been a game-changer that relieves symptoms and provides a promising alternative to medication.
Who can benefit from TMS for anxiety?
TMS therapy can be an effective treatment for anyone struggling with anxiety disorders, especially those who haven’t had success with traditional treatments or have experienced unwanted side effects from medications. As well as treating anxiety, TMS therapy has been shown to help with conditions like depression, PTSD, and OCD.
If you’re interested in exploring TMS therapy for anxiety, our team at BestMind Behavioral Health is here to help. We’ll work with you to determine if TMS is the right fit for your needs and guide you through the process at our clinics in Colorado and Oregon.
See More: Who Qualifies for TMS Therapy? (TMS Requirements)
What are the side effects of TMS therapy?
Side effects of TMS therapy are uncommon. When they do occur, they tend to be mild and temporary, usually resolving on their own within a few hours.
Some potential side effects of TMS include:
- Mild headaches
- Lightheadedness
- Neck or scalp discomfort
- Tingling sensations
- Twitching of facial muscles
- Sleepiness.
In extremely rare cases, TMS therapy can trigger seizures, however this is very uncommon.
Who shouldn’t use TMS therapy?
While TMS is generally safe and well-tolerated, there are certain situations where it may not be recommended.
You should avoid TMS therapy if you:
- Have a history of neurological conditions, such as seizures or epilepsy
- Are pregnant or nursing
- Have a history of brain illness, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, or strokes
- Are taking stimulant medications.
You should also avoid TMS if you have non-removable metal objects in your head, such as:
- Deep brain stimulators
- Cochlear hearing implants
- Aneurysm clips or coils
- Stents in the neck, brain, or heart
- Electrodes
- Shrapnel or bullet fragments
- Vagus nerve stimulators.
The magnetic pulses delivered in TMS therapy can cause metal objects in the head to move or heat up, which can pose serious risks. If you have braces or dental fillings, you can still do TMS therapy as they don’t interfere with treatment.
Benefits of TMS for anxiety
TMS therapy has three key benefits that make it stand out as an alternative to conventional anxiety treatments: it has minimal side effects, is a non-systemic treatment, and can be customized to your needs.
Minimal side effects
Compared to medications, TMS therapy comes with minimal side effects. The most common side effects people report are mild headaches, scalp discomfort, fatigue, and slight tingling of facial muscles. These side effects are usually short-lived, often fading within an hour or two of treatment. In most cases, symptoms disappear within a few weeks as your body adjusts to treatment.
Non-systemic treatment
Unlike oral medications that circulate throughout your entire system, TMS therapy targets only specific regions of the brain without affecting other organs or bodily functions. As a result, it avoids the systemic side effects usually associated with medications, such as weight gain, sexual dysfunction, or gastrointestinal issues.
Customizable to your needs
TMS therapy is a highly customizable treatment that can be tailored to your unique condition. Technicians can adjust the intensity and frequency of the magnetic pulses to make sure you get the best results while minimizing any discomfort. This flexibility makes TMS a personalized and adaptive treatment for anxiety.
Keep Reading: How TMS Helps Military Members & Dependents
Summary: TMS for anxiety
TMS therapy provides a promising alternative for people with anxiety who haven’t responded to traditional treatments like medication or talk therapy. By directly stimulating the brain regions involved in mood regulation, TMS can help you relieve anxiety symptoms and improve your well-being.
If you’ve been living with anxiety and are looking for relief, contact our team at BestMind Behavioral Health to explore whether TMS is a suitable option for you. We offer this innovative treatment at our comfortable clinics in Colorado and Oregon, and our friendly team is ready to support you with compassionate care. Contact us today to discuss TMS therapy for anxiety and schedule a consultation.
